Zoning, Land Use & Development

Cozen O’Connor has represented residential, commercial, retail, and industrial builders in the development and redevelopment of building lots and millions of square feet of real estate. Our team handles every aspect of the zoning, land use, and development approvals process, from obtaining building permits and variances to negotiating stormwater management and traffic plans. We have experience working on multi-family homes and condominiums, office buildings and shopping centers, single-use buildings such as pharmaceutical headquarters and educational institutions, municipal buildings, and public infrastructure. We are equally adept at managing development in densely built cities as in suburban or rural regions.

Having handled hundreds of projects to date, our real estate lawyers can recognize, anticipate, and resolve issues early. We advise clients candidly when a proposal is likely to confront insurmountable resistance in the approvals process and work closely with architectural, engineering, and budget experts to create realistic, approvable alternatives. Once a development plan is in place, we obtain the necessary approvals to allow construction to begin as soon as possible. We frequently engage government overseers on multiple, parallel tracks and are tenacious about advancing our clients development goals.

Cozen O’Connor attorneys understand, however, that smart advocacy requires both persistence and diplomacy. Most real estate development—from the addition of a small parking lot to the construction of a one-million-square-foot high rise—invites objection from one party or another. To reach a satisfactory resolution and enable development to go forward, real estate counsel must listen to the concerns of all stakeholders and be able to communicate effectively with government officials, funders, community groups, and residents. Through open and respectful consultation, we are able to keep projects on track and out of court. In those rare cases when negotiation is not possible, we are prepared to litigate to protect clients’ legitimate property rights.

SERVICE AREAS

Appear before boards of elected officials, planning commissions, and zoning hearing boards

Guide clients through local, state, and federal agency land use application processes

Experience

Obtained a significant land development approval for a 14-building, seven-phase project in Lower Gwynedd Township, PA, for our client, Ortho-McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

Prosecuted Board of Standards and Appeals variance applications that enabled the conversion and enlargement of three manufacturing buildings in Brooklyn's Fulton Ferry Historic District and the conversion of a 70,000-square foot warehouse to residential use.

Secured Landmarks Preservation Commission approval for the demolition of a non-contributing, low-rise structure and replacement with a 19-story, glass, contemporary landmark building in Manhattan's Madison Square North Historic District.

Drafted Uniform Land Use Review application, transactional documents and other supporting material to facilitate the transfer of air rights from city-owned parcel to development site in downtown Brooklyn.

Prepared chair certification and special permit applications to the City Planning Commission for approval of the landscape plan and special permit waiver of the maximum height limit for a development on a full square block along the Greenpoint waterfront.

Guided development team through special permitting process for the demolition and replacement of landmarked parking garage with state-of-the-art facility.

Worked with code consultant and architect to secure agency approvals from the Department of Buildings and Fire Department for a three-acre site with private roads on the Staten Island waterfront. Prepared chair certification and authorization applications to the City Planning Commission for approval of the landscape plan. Coordinated zoning compliance for project team and facilitated transfer of property from the City of New York to developer client.

The Pennsylvania Hospital Tower at 8th & Walnut Streets, a complex matter involving city ordinances and hearings before the city council.

The Comcast Center, a 58-story tower and the city’s tallest structure, an as-of-right development.

1706 Rittenhouse, a luxury residential tower voted one of the best 20 projects in North and South America by Urban Land Institute for 2011. This was a hotly contested matter involving numerous zoning variances.

A number of projects at The Navy Yard. These projects contained complex zoning issues as the city’s regulations did not contemplate issues unique to the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Cozen O’Connor represented developer/landlord in the development and leasing of new regional headquarters for Glaxo SmithKline in the Philadelphia Navy Yard Corporate Center.

The SugarHouse Casino, on Delaware Avenue, opened in 2010 – handled the original permitting and continue to work on the approvals for expansion.

Representation of the applicant for the a new casino at 8th & Market Streets.

The Pennsylvania Convention Center, a multi-use public facility occupying four city blocks between 11th & 13th Streets and Arch and Race Streets